New York eHealth Collaborative’s held a design challenge earlier this year to spark some ideas and discussion on how to execute some of the goals of the patient portal for its statewide health information network. Mana Health, a digital health startup that won the competition, has now got a contract to design it, according to a press release.
One of the biggest challenges companies encountered was how best to bridge the gap between patient needs and health literacy. Mana Health’s design balancing important information with big colorful graphics is aimed at increasing patient engagement.
Portal users will have online access to their personal healthcare data, including lab results, lists of medications, radiology reports, and information about procedures and medical conditions from their providers, according to the statement. Patients will also be able to decide who can access their data such as their doctors or family members.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
It’s expected to be available to patients in certain parts of the state starting in early 2014.
Mana Health also got a new investor this week — serial entrepreneur Reggie Bradford, a senior vice president for product development at Oracle, who joined the board of directors.
